http://www.jordantimes.com/thu/news/news1.htm



Jordan urges world powers to stop Israel’s Aqsa excavations


JT with AFP dispatches

JORDAN ON WEDNESDAY demanded "serious efforts" at the UN Security Council to halt Israeli digging near the ultra-sensitive Al Aqsa Mosque compound under heavy police guard. Israel pressed yesterday with the excavation work, ignoring protests from Muslim leaders around the world.

Some 2,000 policemen have been deployed across the Old City and around what is the most contested holy site in the Middle East, revered by Muslims as their third holiest site.

Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib met in Amman with ambassadors of the EU and G-8 major powers and urged pressure on Israel to stop the digging, warning of “dangerous consequences”.

Khatib, meanwhile, denied media reports that Israel consulted Jordan before it started digging up a path next to the Magharebah Gate.

On Tuesday, King Abdullah warned Israel against its actions, saying the dig would deal a heavy blow to peace efforts between the Jewish state and Arab countries. And Jordanian Ambassador to Israel Ali Ayed lodged a complaint and demanded Israel halt the digging.

Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi, who heads the religious courts in the Palestinian territories, called for a worldwide one-day protest to denounce the works, preceded by excavations, that Israel insists pose no harm to the compound.

A Palestinian group linked to the Fateh Party threatened to attack synagogues in retaliation. "If the Zionist enemy and the settlers continue the Aqsa work, we will target synagogues and other sites in the Jewish faith," announced Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, which take its name from the Jerusalem compound.

The Israel Antiquities Authority claimed the work, expected to take months, was to strengthen an access ramp to the Magharebah Gate for the "benefit and safety of visitors" after damage caused by an earthquake and snowstorms in February 2004.

But the Muslim trust that oversees the compound charges that the Israelis are levelling a mound which contains two underground rooms connected to the mosque complex whose destruction risks undermining its foundations.

"The reaction of the Islamic world to this insulting move should be in a way to make the Zionist regime regret it," state television quoted Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as saying.

Despite the fury, Israel Antiquities Authority spokeswoman Osnat Gouez said excavations were continuing and could last weeks, even months.

"It is important to emphasise that this work and these excavations do not affect the compound at all," she said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni condemned what she described as "irresponsible elements who know perfectly well that no harm is being caused here to any holy place".

The compound, which houses both the Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock, is the place where the second Palestinian uprising erupted in 2000 following a controversial visit by then-Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon.

In 1996, more than 80 people died in three days of rioting in the Palestinian territories after then-Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu opened a new entrance to a controversial archaeological tunnel near the holy sites.

On Wednesday, the head of the Islamic Movement in Israel, Sheikh Raed Salah, was arrested after a dispute with officers. In court, he was banned from being within 150 metres of the Old City walls for 10 days.

Israel continues to limit access to the mosques to Muslim men aged over 45 with Israeli identity cards and to Muslim women, with Jewish visitors and foreign tourists banned.

Islamic Movement number two Sheikh Kamel Khatib vowed unrelenting protests.

"We will continue the protests today, tomorrow, after tomorrow. Friday will be a day of solidarity and anger," he said.

The Israeli press has also joined the chorus of criticism, with an editorial in top-selling daily Yediot Aharonot accusing the authorities of courting a new conflict with the Palestinians.

"The volcano in Jerusalem is threatening to erupt once again, and perhaps to ignite a third Intifada," warned an article entitled: "Playing with Fire".

"All this commotion could have been avoided. The repairs...

could have been carried out in coordination with the Muslim endowments trust," it said.

Thursday, February 8, 2007

Ken-I am neither pro/anti Israel nor pro/anti Palestinian. I have great empathy for the Palestinians as a people. As I have stated before: They are a people of broken promises, and poor choices in government.

I have not in the past supported our policies where Israel is concerned. IMO-there are many instances of them being the aggressor, or the instigator in this conflict, as in the above case.

I also do not support the past actions of the Palestinian government either. While I understand that they are a desparate people, they way to gain independence is not blowing up school buses.

Bethlahem and Jeruselum are spiritual places for many. Perhaps they should be annexed and given to the world at large to protect for everyone.

Citing obvious and factual lobbyign by a foreign nation to congress for the intrestests of sid country. Thats illegal. Yet in goes on. Isral PAC's are the largest in money spent congress its absurd. The same people that support this lobbying with shit a brick if any other nation had such influnce. Typical partisan hypocracy. Its a waste of money and the largest factor in Anti-American sentiment in the Mid-east.

This where, Nazi, anti-smetie, blah blah come in along with insanely deluded outlook of some Muslim conspriacy to take over the planet. Its ludicris to say that any Palestienans make a dent in any american news media or congressional hearing. Furthermor blaming 8 million Palestianns for the actions of a mixed bag of Mid eastern nationalites commiting terroists acts is like blmaing the entire black comunity for urban gang warfare. Its just absurd.

I have decided to stop paying taxes and just send my money to Israel where at least I know it will be spent to do God's will and not to further the cause of the anti-Christ.

Insane much?